Shielded revolvable target



.I uly 29, 1952 Filed Sept. l5, 1949 J N. HAMRICK SHIELDED REVOLVABLE TARGET zsHEE'Irs-.sm'r 2 @ma I l? L g IN V EN TOR.'

. v l JAMES NATHAN/EL HAMe/cK.

A T TOE/VE V Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIELDED REVOLVABLE TARGET` J ames Nathaniel Hamrick, Rutherfordton, N. C. Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,339

This invention relates to amusement devices and more especially to a revolvable target comprising a pair of oppositely positioned target members and having relatively movable means positioned at the juncture of the oppositely positioned target members for holding the target in a vertical position, and upon the uppermost of the target members being struck .by a projectile, a half revolution will be imparted tothe target, thus presenting the other of the target members in the upper position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a target structure for small arms practice comprising a pair of target members xed in diametrically opposed relation to each other and a portion at the juncture of which has outwardly projecting journalled portions integral therewith, these journalled portions being mounted in suitable bearing stands. Hingedly connected to the target members at their junction points lare counter-balancing flaps or shields which depend from the center of the target to thus induce the target to remain in a substantially vertical position, the uppermost of the target members then being exposed and the lowermost of the target members being shielded from view of the person firing upon the target, and whereby, upon the uppermost of the target members being impinged upon by a projectile or the like, the other of the target members will be presented in the upper position while the hinged aps thereon will again move, by gravity, to a position covering the lower ofthe target members.

It is another object of this invention to provide a target structure of the class described with a locking means to prevent the target from rotating if the shield covering the lowermostrof the target members is struck .by a projectile. A spring pressed dog shown in Figure 1 permits the lowermost target member and thetwo shields to pass when the target is rotated by a projectile striking the uppermost and exposed member of the target. However, if the shield covering the lowermost target member is struck by a projectile, then the spring pressed dog will not allow the target to rotate.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a target comprising a tubular member having a pair of oppositely positioned target members welded thereto and projecting radially therefrom, whereby a plurality of these tubular members with their targets thereon may be mounted on a shaft supported in suitable bearing stands. It is a further object of this invention to pros Claims. (ol. l27s-102.1)

vide, in a target of the type last described, a pair of hinged shield plates, one on each side 'of the tubular member, these hinged members being suspended from the tubular member in such a manner as to cover the lowermost of the target members on the tubular mem-ber and to tend to hold the target members in a substantially vertical position, and, upon the uppermost of the target members being engaged by a projectile, this will cause the uppermost of the target members to move to the lowermost position, and will, of course, position formerly the lowermost ofthe target members in the uppermost position, and will cause the shield members to reverse their position to thus shield the lowermost'of the ltarget members and to thus again present the then uppermost of the target members to the view of the person firing upon the target. r

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying "drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one form of the invention and showing the target in a vertical position;

Figure 2 is an end view looking at the righthand end of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged View with parts in section taken substantially along the line 3 3 in Figure 1 and showing the target members partially rotated from the position shown in Figure 1 as though the uppermost of the target members had been struck by a projectile and showing the relative position of the shield plates;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken substantially alongthe line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 1;

Figure V6 is an elevation showing a modified form of the invention in which a plurality of pairs of target members are positioned on a single shaft;

j Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional-plan view taken substantially along the line l-'I in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the target members and showing the suspended shield plates associated therewith and is taken substantially along the line 3--6 in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an elevation looking at the lefthand end of the Figure 6. Y

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals l0 and H indicate inverted 3 T-shaped bearing stands which are adapted to be secured in spaced relation to each other to the upper surface of a suitable table,'the upper surface of this table being indicated by the line I3, in Figures l and 2.

The target per se, broadiy designated at It, is preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal. This sheet metal has a pair of oppositely directed outwardly projecting portions I and I6 which rshall be hereinafter referred to as target members, and are shown in the drawings as being in the form of a rabbit and a duck, re-

spectively. However, it is to be understood that l these target members i5 and it may be of any desired shape which will be pleasing to the eye of a person using the target.

The intervening portion I'E, at the juncture of the target members I5 and I6, has portions 2B and 2| which extend outwardly a substantial distance in opposite directions from each other and are then rolled over to form tubular portions 22 and E3, respectively, which are circular in cross-section, and which shall be hereinafter referred to as journals.

Y The upper ends of the bearing stands H3 and II are provided with a notch in which the `journals 22 and 23 areadapted to be mounted for rotation and suitable collars 2i and Si) are adjustably secured on the journals 22 and 23 as by set screws 3i. These collars 27 and Sii are adapted torotatably andslidably engage proximate surfacesof the bearing stands I0 and I I to prevent endvvise movement of the target members I5 and I6 relative to the bearing stands IU and I I. The bearing stand I I has a yoke member 35 secured thereto, as by Welding, and the righthand end thereof in Figures 1 and 5 has a slot 35 thereinwithin which the end of a finger or locking member 31 is mounted for oscillation.,` Y Y This locking member is rounded at its lower `end in Figure 5, as at 4G, and its upper left-hand portion is cut at right` angles to the longitudinal axis thereof to thus prevent the iinger Si from being pulled beyond the position shown in a counterclockvvise direction in Figure 5 by a tension spring 62. The tensionV spring t2 is connected to a spring anchor member i3V on the finger 3'! and a suitable spring anchor member 4d is welded to the bearing stand I I and extends laterally therefrom (Figure 2) and to which the other end of the tension spring d2 is connected. This finger S'I is adapted to Ybe engaged by either' one of a pair of shieldplates 65 and i'I hingedly connected, in a manner to be presently described, to the intervening portion E? between the target members I5 and I5. Y

These shield members [it and i? may be hingedly connected to the portion I'I and its portions 2Q and 2| in any desiredmanner; however, it is preferred that a plurality of split rings 5i) loosely penetrate the portion Ii at points diametrically opposite from each other on the split rings `5? and that these rings 56 also loosely penetrate theV upper or proximate portions of the depending shield plates i5 and di to thus permit freedom of movement of the shield plates 46 and 4I in either direction so they may cover either of the target members i5 and Iii, depending upon which or'V the target members is in the lowermost position relative to the other.

It is thus seen that upon the uppermost of the target members being struck lby a projectile,

rotation will be imparted to the same about the axis of the journals 22 and .33 and this will cause the members 46 and I to move substantially as indicated in Figure 3 and it is thus seen that the target member I5 will move from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position of the target member I5, while the other target member I6 will assume the position shown in Figure 1 of the target member I5.

In the meantime, the shield plate I6 will, of course, move to the rear of the target members I5 and',` I while the shieldpplate' i? will be visible in place of Athe'target shield plate i5 in Figure 1, since the members te and 41 serve to balance and hold the target members I5 and I6 in vertical position.

When the parts, due to gravity, assume the position shown in Figures l, 2 and 5, the shield plates 45 and G'I will ride past the free end of the dog 35 to the position shown in Figure 5 and should the projectile be fired too low, the dog 35 will prevent reverse rotation of the parts.

Modified form Referring to VFigures 6 to 8 inclusive, there is Y like,the top surface of which is indicated by the Vline 63a.

In Figure 6 there are shown two of the target members 6I! mounted on the shaft Se; however, it is to be understood that any number of targets may be mounted on the shaft 63, the number being limited only by the length of the shaft 5S. Each of the targets Sli comprises a tubular shaft t5 rotatably mounted on the shaft .5b and being prevented from having endwise movement thereon by suitable collars bfi adjustably mounted on the shaft t5 by' any suitable means suchas set screws $7. rIhe tubular shaft has a pair oi diametrically opposed target members 'Iii and 'II secured therto, as by Welding, and which, as in the original form of the invention, may be of any desired shape and inthe present instance are shown iny the form of a rabbit and a duck, respectively.

The ends of a plurality of spaced staples 'I2 are welded to one side of the tubular shaft 65, in transverse relation to the target members 'It and il, and a plurality of similar staples 'I3 are welded to the other side of the tubular shaft 65 diametrically opposite from the staples i2, Shield plates 'Iii and 'I5 are loosely penetrated by the staples 'I2 and 73, respectively, and depend v therefrom, these staples 'I2 and 'I3 serving as hinges for the proximate ends of the depending shield plates 'M and '15.

lThe Y'shield plates 'I4 and 'I5 are identical to the shield plates @6 and 41 appearing in the orign inal form of the invention, and the function of the modified form of the invention is identical to that of the original form of the invention, as heretofore described. Y

If so desired, a locking means such as that shown in Figure 5 may be used in combination with the modified form of the invention; however, this locking meanslis optional and is not essential to operation ofv the device as shown in Figure 6, since, although the target members 'Iii and 'II may revolve more vthan a half revolution, depending upon the force of the impact of the projectile, the target members 'i9 and 'II will a1- Ways stop Vin a vertical position withone or the other in the uppermost position, due to the fact that the shield plates 14 and 15 will ultimately come to rest in substantially the position shown in Figure 8, that is, depending from the associated staples 12 and 13.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A target for small arms practice comprising at least one pair of diametrically opposed target members disposed 180 degrees apart from each other and rigid with respect to each other, means for rotatably supporting the diametrically opposed target members on a transverse horizontal axis coincident with the junction point of the target members, a shield for each of said target members, said shields being hingedly connected, one on each side of said axis at the junction point of said target members, said shields being adapted to depend downwardly by gravity one on each side of the lowermost target member and serving to shield said lowermost target member, said shields also causing the target members to maintain a substantially vertical position while at rest regardless of which of the target members may be disposed above the axis.

2. A target for small arms practice comprising at least one pair of diametrically opposed target members, said pair of target members being formed from a single sheet of material and being disposed 180 degrees apart from each other, means for rotatably supporting the diametrically opposed target members on a transverse horizontal axis comprising an intervening portion formed integral with said pair of target members and extending horizontally a substantial distance beyond the side edges of the pair of target members and having substantially tubular end portions, bearing stands rotatably supporting opposed ends of said intervening portion, a shield for each of said target members, said shields being hingedly connected, one on each side of said intervening portion at the junction of said pair of target members, said shields being adapted to depend downwardly by gravity one on each side of the lowermost target member and serving to shield said lowermost target member, said shields also causing the target members to maintain a substantially vertical position while at rest regardless of which of the target members may be disposed above the axis.

3. A target for small arms practice comprising at least one pair of diametrically opposed target members, means for rotatably supporting said target members comprising a rst horizontally disposed shaft, means for supporting said shaft, a tubular shaft rotatably mounted on the rst shaft, said pair of target members being secured to said tubular shaft and extending degrees apart from each other, a shield for eachl of said target members, said shields being hingedly connected one on each side of the tubular shaft between said pair of target members, said shields being adapted to depend down- -wardly by gravity one on each side of the lowermost target member and serving to shield said lowermost target member, said shields also causing the target members to maintain a substantially vertical position while at rest regardless of which of the target members may be disposed above the axis.

JAMES NATI-IANIEL HAMRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

n UNITED SIIYIES PATENTS Number Name Date 157,335 Lyon Dec. 1, 1874 675,804 Tyrell June 4, 1901 1,162,814 Sommerfeld Dec. 7, 1915 1,781,717 Bradt Nov. 18, 1930 2,085,933 Vaughan July 6, 1937 2,449,762 Biehl Sept. 21, 1948 

